Electric-circuit-controlling switch.



F. I; CAM/IIIA.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CCNTROLLING SWITCH. APPLIc'AloN FILED FEBJ. 1916. RENEwED APR. lo. Isls.

1,267,1L Patented lMay 21,1918, 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F. I. CAIVIATTA. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED PEB. 7. 1916. RENEwED APP.10,1918.

Patented May21,19181 I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

am? JMI IIIIIII SHOM/w43 nro.

FRANK J. CAIVIATTA, OF TONASKET, WASHINGTON.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING SWITCH.

Application filed February 7, 1916, Serial No. 76,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK citizen of the United States, residing at Tonasket, lWaShingtOn, formerly of Missoula, in the county of Missoula and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric-Circuit-'Controlling Switches, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in electric circuit controlling switches and has particular application to aout-out switch for use in connection with electric current meters.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose vto provide a cut-out switch for use in connection with electric current meters, which will be constructed in such manner as to prevent unlawful tapping of the switch, thereby preventing the consumer from taking the current from the mains around the meter.

It is also my purpose to provide a switch of the class described which will operate efficiently and effectively under all conditions, which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, which may be manufactured and installed at small cost and which may be quickly and conveniently operated to open and close the controlled circuit. y

YVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. Q is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the same.

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view through the switch.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blades.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the insulating collar of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a substantially rectangular casing constructed of any suitable material and having the bottom wall thereof fastened to a slab 2. The front of the casing 1 is closed by means of a cover 3 secured to the forward J. CAMATTA', a

Specification. of Letters Patent.

842. Renewed April 10, 1918.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Serial No. 227,822.

edges of the side wall and to the end wall by suitable securing devices et and by seals Arranged within the casing 1 and eX- tending longitudinally thereof is a partition 6 disposed centrally of the casing and having 'the opposite ends thereof secured to the respective end walls and this partition divides the casing into two longitudinal channels 7. These channels are preferably, although not necessarily, lined with asbestos S or analogous material. Formed in the partition 6 centrally thereof is a bore 9 opening onto the sides of the partition at diametrically opposite points and arranged within the bore is an expansion spring 10 engaging the rear wall of the casing and secured to the back walls of the channels 7 respectively are pairs of contact blocks 11. The blocks of each pair are arranged end to end and the confronting ends thereof are suitably spaced apart and beveled to form a wedge-shaped space 12 between the blocks. The spaces 12 between the blocks in the respective channels aline with each other and with the bore and arranged transversely of the bore 19 and engagingv the spring 10 is a block 13 of insulating material having the opposite ends thereof projecting beyond the sides of the partition and suitably secured to the opposite ends of the block are blades 11 respectively adapted to enter the spaces 1Q between the pairs of contact blocks 11. Each blade 11 is wedge-shaped in cross section so that the saine may fit snugly within the corresponding space 12 and tightly engage the confronting ends of the pair of contacts so as to form a Agood electrical connection between such blocks. Formed on the forward edge of the insulating block 13 is an outwardly projecting stud 15 and encircling the stud 15 is an insulating collar 16 having the rear edge thereof formed,.at diametrically opposite points,with strips 17 curved in cross section and fitting within the bore 9. Formed in the cover 3 in alinement ith the bore 9 in the partition is an opening 18, while formed in the under surface of the cover at diametrically opposite sides of the opening 18 and contiguous to such opening are grooves 19 adapted to receive the blades 1&1,

and passed through the opening 18 is a sleeve 20 preferably, although not necessarily, formed of insulating material and disposed within the collar 16 and encircling the stud 15.

Secured to the outer end of the sleeve 2O is a knob 2l, while formed in the sleeve immediately adjacent to the knob is a slot 22 and disposed in the plane below the slot 22 is another slot 23 formed: in the sleeve, while slidably mounted upon the outer surface of the cover isa'latching finger 24 adapted to engage in either one of the slots 22 or 23, accordingv to the position of V the sleeve. This finger 24 is connected with a spring 25 that acts to hold the finger normally in latching position.

In practice, the spring 10 acting u'pon the block 3 holds the blades 14 normally within the grooves 19 and out of engagement with the contact blocks 11 and in this position of the blades the lower slot 23 in the sleeve 20 registers with the finger 24 and receives the finger so as to holdk the blades against inward movement in the event of the accidental operation of the sleeve under the action of the knob. lVhen it is desired to close the switch, the knob is rotated to revolve the sleeve and in the rotation of the sleeve the latching finger 24 is forced out vofthe slot 23 so that the knob may bey pressed inwardly and in the inward movementv of the knob the insulating block 13 is actuated against the action of thevspring 10 and the blades 14 carried into engagement with the contact block 11, thereby bridging the spaces between the contact blocks of the pairs to electrically connect such blocks. IVhen the blades are in engagement with the contact blocks, 'the slots 22 register with the finger 24 and the spring- 25 forces the linger 24 into the slot 22 so as to lock tlfe switch in circuit closing position.

In the present instance, the back wall of the casing 1 is formed with grooves 26 that communicate by way of passages 27 respectively with the channels 7 and pass through these grooves 26 and correspondingy passages 27 are wiresy 2S connected with the respective contact blocks 11. The wires 2S connected with corresponding contact blocks 11 are adapted to be connected to the electric current mains, While the wires connected scribed and' delineated, as modification and variation may be m'ade within the scope of the Aclaim and without departing from the spirit of the invention. f

I claim:

An electric switch comprisingan inclosl ing casing having a transverse recess in theu'nder side of its top wall, a longitudinall partition dividing the interior of said casing into -two channels,

said partition and the bottom wall of said casing being; provided -with a bore alining with said recess,.aspring disposed in said bore, a sleeve disposed in sa-idbore around said spring andprovided with slots. a block of insulatingmaterial'slidable in said'sleeve and projectingthrough said slots, :Contact blades on said block adapted'to bridge said separated contactv members, said spring urging said block andsaid blades into said recess out of engagement with said contact members, an operating handle connected with said block and extending eXteriorly of the casing, and means for holding' said blades selectively in and out of vengagement with said contact members.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX myy signature in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK J. CAh/IATTA.

IVitnesses:

L. C. BOLTON, O. B. WHITE'.

Copesrof this patent may be vobtained forvece`nts each, by addressing the Commissioner o'f Patents, Washington, I). C.

a pair of separated contact members 1n each of said channels, 

